Demand-side Approaches

Extreme and populist parties have made significant electoral gains in recent years. These parties are increasingly winning elections by pledging to promote the ‘national preference’ through a narrative that combines nationalism, xenophobia and populism. These parties are not only performing well in elections, but they are also becoming increasingly entrenched in their respective political systems through access to office, often enjoying widespread popular support. This section explores the drivers of support for these parties and aims to critically evaluate the role of different socio-demographic and attitudinal factors. We invite contributions that explore topics like: • The economy versus culture debate • The role of objective or subjective insecurity, including status, class and/or income decline • The role of cultural values and anti-immigration attitudes • The role of populist attitudes • Psychological drivers of extreme/far-right party support • Voter apathy and declining voter turnout